Notice of GYA Winter Meeting & Annual Awards Reception
TO: Commodores of General and Affiliate Members
GYA Executive Committee
GYA Past Commodores
GYA Standing Committee and Council Chairmen
GYA Coordinator of each GYA General Member Club
GYA Associate Members
PLEASE NOTE THE MEETING FORMAT HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICALLY FROM PRIOR YEARS
The Winter Meeting of the Gulf Yachting Association will be held on January 12th – 14th, 2024 at the Biloxi Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum, 115 E 1st Street, Biloxi, MS 39530. Since some contact information at your club may have changed since our last meeting, please distribute this information to the appropriate contacts at your club.
Friday, January 12, 2024
7:00 pm Executive Committee Meeting & Dinner
Hosted at the home of Commodore Robbie Schmidt
Saturday, January 13, 2024
9:30 am Museum Doors Open – Reception Area at Entrance
10:00 am Race Management Committee Meeting – Theater, 2nd Floor
10:30 am One Design & Youth Committee Meeting – Large Meeting Room, 1st Floor
11:30 am Racing Regulations Committee Meeting – Hurricane Gallery, 3rd Floor
1:00 pm Capdevielle Committee Meeting – Large Meeting Room, 1st Floor
2:00 pm Offshore Council Meeting – Theater, 2nd Floor
2:00 pm Trophy Committee Meeting – Board Room, 3rd Floor
3:00 pm Scheduling Committee Meeting – Hurricane Gallery, 3rd Floor
5:30 pm GYA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING – Large Meeting Room, 1st Floor
6:30 PM GYA ANNUAL AWARDS RECEPTION – Nydia Gallery, 2nd Floor $25 per person RSVP to GYA Secretary (228) 669-7518 or secretary@gya.org Payments made to GYA, mail to 1245 Kensington Drive, Biloxi, MS 39530
*GYA Managers Association next meeting will be during the Annual GYA meeting at Fairhope Yacht Club in May
Sunday, January 14, 2024
11:00 am Walk On Schooner Sail
$30 per person, reserve through the museum directly, (228) 435-6320
Departs from the Schooner Pier Complex, 367 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi, MS 39530
NOTICE OF WINTER MEETING
January 12-14, 2024
Biloxi Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum
115 E 1st Street
Biloxi, MS 39530
GYA COMMODORES – GENERAL MEMBER CLUBS – Your club’s attendance is very important. If you cannot attend the Board meeting, please send a WRITTEN NOTICE naming your club’s representative to the GYA Secretary-Treasurer via email secretary@gya.org, or hand deliver at the meeting.
All GYA Club Board Members and their club members are invited to attend the Annual GYA Awards reception. The reception will be Saturday evening at the Biloxi Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum beginning at 6:30 pm. Please note that this is a reception this year (not a dinner), and the cost will be $25 per person. Please make your reception reservations to the GYA Secretary by January 5, 2024, via email secretary@gya.org, by calling (228) 669-7518 or mailing your payment payable to the GYA to 1245 Kensington Drive, Biloxi, MS 39530.
Your GYA Flag Officers look forward to seeing you at the Winter meeting at the Biloxi Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum. Please wear your appropriate blazer, club badge and dress slacks for the meeting and reception.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Schmidt
GYA Secretary/Treasurer
(228) 669-7518
PROPOSED EXECTUIVE COMMITTEE BY THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE FOR 2024:
Randy Fitzpatrick-Wainwright, Commodore (Fairhope YC)
Alan McMillan, Vice Commodore (Pensacola YC)
Richard Heausler, Rear Commodore (Bay Waveland YC)
Shannon Weatherly, Secretary/Treasurer (Pass Christian YC)
PROPOSED GYA BY-LAW CHANGES:
Article III – Membership
Current
B.
Classification
(2) Affiliate Membership. Organizations in this classification shall be a member of the United States Sailing Association. Compliance with this requirement may be delayed until acceptance. Affiliate members shall have the right to participate in USSA events conducted within the GYA, use the services of the Appeals Committee and the PHRF Rating Committee in accordance with the established procedures and otherwise participate in GYA affairs on a reduced basis as determined by the Board of Directors from time to time, but shall not be entitled to representation on the Board.
Proposed
B.
Classification
(2) Affiliate Membership. Organizations in this classification shall be a member of the United States Sailing Association. Compliance with this requirement may be delayed until acceptance. Affiliate members shall have the right to participate in USSA events conducted within the GYA, use the services of the Appeals Committee and the Handicap Rating Committee in accordance with the established procedures and otherwise participate in GYA affairs on a reduced basis as determined by the Board of Directors from time to time, but shall not be entitled to representation on the Board.
ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS
SECTION 5: DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Current
A. Commodore. (3) exercise ratification authority over the selection of the Chair of the PHRF Rating Committee.
Proposed
A. Commodore. (3) exercise ratification authority over the selection of the Chair of the Handicap Rating Committee.
PROPOSED GYA RACING REGULATION CHANGES:
Current Rule
7.4 Capdevielle Series Regattas. Interclub events established by the BOD and managed as specified in Regulation 11 – Host Club Requirements. Certain regattas have special regulations as defined below in addition to the regulations common to all series regattas. Series regattas may be added with the approval of or deleted by the action of the BOD only. Series regattas established by the BOD are:
Regatta Name | Abbreviated Name | Designation | Host Club |
Mardi Gras | Non-Championship | New Orleans Yacht Club | |
GYA Opening | Opening | Non-Championship Regulation 23 | GYA Commodore’s Club |
Spring | Non-Championship | Buccaneer Yacht Club | |
Candler | Non-Championship | St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club | |
Meigs | Non-Championship | Ft. Walton Yacht Club | |
Summer | Non-Championship | Mobile Yacht Club | |
Weatherly | Non-Championship | Gulfport Yacht Club | |
Junior Lipton Challenge | Junior Lipton | Championship Regulation 20 | Determined by previous year results |
Knost Ladies Championship | Knost | Championship Regulation 21 | Pass Christian Yacht Club |
Sir Thomas Lipton Cup Challenge | Lipton Cup | Championship Regulation 19 | Determined by previous year results |
Wadewitz | Non-Championship | Fairhope Yacht Club | |
Sugar Bowl Race of Champions | Sugar Bowl | Non-Championship Regulation 22 | Southern Yacht Club |
Proposed Rule
7.4 Capdevielle Series Regattas. Interclub events established by the BOD and managed as specified in Regulation 11 – Host Club Requirements. Certain regattas have special regulations as defined below in addition to the regulations common to all series regattas. Series regattas may be added with the approval of or deleted by the action of the BOD only. Series regattas established by the BOD are:
Regatta Name | Abbreviated Name | Designation | Host Club |
Mardi Gras | Non-Championship | New Orleans Yacht Club | |
GYA Opening | Opening | Non-Championship Regulation 23 | GYA Commodore’s Club |
Spring | Non-Championship | Buccaneer Yacht Club | |
Candler | Non-Championship | St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club | |
Meigs | Non-Championship | Ft. Walton Yacht Club | |
Summer | Non-Championship | Mobile Yacht Club | |
Weatherly | Non-Championship | Gulfport Yacht Club | |
Junior Lipton Challenge | Junior Lipton | Championship Regulation 20 | See reg 20.1(a) |
Knost Ladies Championship | Knost | Championship Regulation 21 | Pass Christian Yacht Club |
Sir Thomas Lipton Cup Challenge | Lipton Cup | Championship Regulation 19 | See reg 19.1(a) |
Wadewitz | Non-Championship | Fairhope Yacht Club | |
Sugar Bowl Race of Champions | Sugar Bowl | Non-Championship Regulation 22 | Southern Yacht Club |
Current Rule
14.1 The number of races scheduled and required to constitute a series at each event shall conform to the following:
Event | Number of Races Scheduled | Number of Races to Constitute a Series |
Lipton Cup | 5 | 2 |
Junior Lipton | 6 | 1 |
Knost | Maximum of 5 | 1 |
Sugar Bowl | Maximum of 5 | Per the OA |
All Others | 5 | 1 |
Proposed Rule
14.1 The number of races scheduled and required to constitute a series at each event shall conform to the following:
Event | Number of Races Scheduled | Number of Races to Constitute a Series |
Lipton Cup | 5 | 2 |
Junior Lipton | 5 | 1 |
Knost | Maximum of 5 | 1 |
Sugar Bowl | Maximum of 5 | Per the OA |
All Others | 5 | 1 |
Current Rule
15.3 Ties: Except as provided in Regulations 19.9 (Lipton Cup), and 20.4 (Junior Lipton), ties shall be resolved according to RRS A8.
Proposed Rule
15.3 Ties: Except as provided in Regulations 19.9 (Lipton Cup), and 20.5 (Junior Lipton), ties shall be resolved according to RRS A8.
Current Rule
20 JUNIOR LIPTON REGATTA
20.1 Host Club
(a)The host club shall be determined exactly as the Lipton Cup host club, Regulation 19.1(a)(b), except that the three (3) mile radius restriction shall not apply.
Proposed Rule
(a) (Effective for the 2025 season.) The GYA club that won the previous year shall normally host in the current year. No club, however, shall host in consecutive years. If, because of this restriction, the previous year winner is not eligible to host, that club may offer hosting the current year to another GYA club. Any such awarding of an alternate host shall only be with EXCOM approval prior to the next Annual Meeting.
(b)(Effective for the 2025 season.) In the event that a previous year winner that is eligible to host the current year elects not to, that club may offer current year hosting to any GYA club that is eligible to do so. Any such awarding of an alternate host shall only be with EXCOM approval prior to the next Annual Meeting.
Margaritaville Resort Biloxi 195 Beach Boulevard Biloxi, MS (228) 271-6377 0.3 miles to museum | Golden Nugget Biloxi Hotel & Casino 151 Beach Boulevard Biloxi, MS (228) 435-5400 0.3 miles to museum | Palace Casino Resort 158 Howard Avenue Biloxi, MS (228) 432-8888 0.3 miles to museum |
The White House Hotel 1230 Beach Boulevard Biloxi, MS (228) 233-1230 3.3 miles to museum | The Roost Boutique 604 Porter Avenue Ocean Springs, MS (228) 285-7989 2.5 miles to museum | Hotel The Hemingway 929 Washington Avenue Ocean Springs, MS (228) 875-4496 2.9 miles to museum |
Year End Reminders
Submit your club’s 2024 sailing schedule, links have been emailed
Submit your club’s 2024 Directory information, links have been emailed
Winter Meeting, January 13, 2024, Biloxi Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum
Sugar Bowl ROC, Nov 11-12, 2023
Wadewitz Regatta, Sept 30-Oct 1
Congratulations to the Lipton Challenge Winner – Pensacola Yacht Club
Congratulations to Pensacola Yacht Club – 1st Place
Mobile Yacht Club – 2nd Place
Southern Yacht Club – 3rd Place.
Mobile Yacht Club took home most improved.
Pass Christian Yacht Club received the Sportsmanship award.
See you all next year at Pensacola Yacht Club.
Notice of Semi-Annual Meeting, Sept 2, 2023, PCYC
July 31, 2023
TO: Commodores of General and Affiliate Members
GYA Executive Committee
GYA Past Commodores
GYA Standing Committee and Council Chairmen
GYA Coordinator of each GYA General Member Club GYA Associate Members
The Semi-Annual Meeting of the Gulf Yachting Association will be held on Saturday, September 2, 2023 at Pass Christian Yacht Club, 120 South Market Street, Pass Christian, MS (228) 452-2571. Since some mailing and email addresses may have changed since the last meeting, please distribute this information to the appropriate contacts at your club.
GYA COMMODORES of GENERAL MEMBER CLUBS – Your club’s attendance is very important. If you cannot attend the Board meeting Saturday, September 2nd beginning at 1000 hours, please send a NOTICE naming your club’s representative to the GYA Secretary-Treasurer via mail at 1245 Kensington Drive, Biloxi, MS 39530, email secretary@gya.org, or hand deliver a letter at the meeting.
Pass Christian Yacht Club, will provide all GYA Clubs the program and schedule of events for the Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge competition for the following trophies:
- Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Trophy
- Sir Thomas Lipton Inter-Club Sportsmanship Trophy
- Tim Murray Memorial Trophy, Most Improved Performance
- Race 1 Floyd Davis Memorial Trophy
- Race 2 J. Fred Clerc Trophy
- Race 3 Michael S. Johnson Trophy
- Race 4 no permanent trophy, special trophy by GYA
- Last Race Commodore Larry Beauvais, Jr. Memorial Trophy
SCHEDULE CHANGE 8/15/2023
Friday, September 1st
1000 Pool Opens
1300 – 1700 Registration/Check-In
1400 – 1700 Boat Measurement (hoist)
1800 GYA Executive Committee Meeting (Board Room), Dinner (Main Dining Room)
1800 – 2100 Dinner Service (Main Dining Room)
Saturday, September 2nd
0800 – 1000 Breakfast
0800 – 1100 Registration/Check-In/Weigh-In
0900 – 0950 Capdevielle Committee (Main Dining Room)
0900 – 0950 Trophy Committee Meeting (Junior Room)
1000 Pool Opens
1000 – 1100 GYA Board of Directors Meeting (Dining Room)
1100 – 1400 Lunch Menu Served
1115 Team Captains Meeting (Bar)
1200 Flag Raising Ceremony (Blue Blazer / White Pants)
1200 – 1800 Pool Bar Open
1330 Warning signal for Lipton Race 1
Race 2 and 3 (if possible) to follow after crew changes.
1900 – 2200 Ship Wreck Party (Dining Room, band begins at 1930)
Sunday, September 3th
0800 – 1000 Crew Weigh-In and Crew List
0800 – 1000 Light Breakfast served in bar by Ladies Auxiliary members
1000 Pool Opens
1030 Warning signal for race 4, race 5 to follow after crew changes
1100 – 1400 PCYC Sunday Brunch
1600 Latest time for warning signal
TBD Trophy Presentation (approx. 1.5 hours after first boat docks)
Light hors d’oeuvres will be served
This schedule is subject to change – please be sure to check the official bulletin board.
Pass Christian Yacht Club asks all guests to please pre-register for a guest card prior to arrival (attached).
A discounted room block as been established at the following:
The Inn at Long Beach
300 Beach Boulevard West
Long, MS 39560
(228) 338-2270
Group Code: Pass Christian Yacht Club
Other area accommodations in the area:
Hotel Whiskey 115 Davis Avenue Pass Christian, MS 39571 (601) 557-2611 | Hotel Pass Christian 116 W Scenic Drive Pass Christian, MS 39571 (228) 222-2062 |
Pearl Hotel, LLC 104 North Beach Blvd. Bay St. Louis, MS 39520 228- 688-0400 |
Your GYA Flag Officers look forward to seeing you at the Semi-Annual meeting at Pass Christian yacht Club. We ask that you share all information about the weekend events with members of your club. Please wear your appropriate blazer, club badge and white dress slacks for the meeting and flag raising ceremony.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Schmidt
GYA Secretary/Treasurer
Link to Lipton Challenge Regatta Network Site (Click Here)
Link to Winter Meeting Minutes (Click Here)
Link to Lipton Challenge Form (Click Here)
Link to PCYC Authorization Agreement for CC Payments (Click Here)